Products and Technology
New Covid Program and App Connects People & Volunteers
All Life Transitions, LLC (AllLT) announced the launch of a National Volunteer Matching Program which enables individuals seeking a COVID-19 vaccination anywhere in the US to find neighborhood vaccination centers.
Exciting New Covid-19 Development; Vironix Health Has Teamed Up With Oxford University to Develop Novel Algorithms to Remotely Detect and Distinguish Flu-Like Illness & Covid-19
Digital Health Company, Vironix Health (@VironixHealth), has teamed up with the Industrially Focused Mathematical Modeling (InFoMM) Center for Doctoral Training (CDT, based within the Mathematical Institute at the University of Oxford, to bring the latest methods in machine-learning (A.I.), data mapping, predictive modeling, and decision science to bear on Vironix’s infectious and chronic illness disease management technologies.
COVID-19 Weekly Insights from hc1
Follow this weekly dashboard for COVID-19 weekly insights driven by the CV19 Lab Testing Dashboard powered by hc1 (@hc1dotcom) and a coalition of laboratories at no charge to public health officials, government agencies, and healthcare providers.
News and Noted
CVS Health builds on community-based strategy to address COVID-19 vaccine education and equity
CVS Health (@cvshealth) announced its community-based strategy to address potential inequities related to COVID-19 vaccine access in vulnerable communities, with a particular focus on Black and Hispanic populations. The strategy includes proactive patient outreach, community-based partnerships and vaccine clinics, and robust, education-focused marketing, all aimed at increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates.
No Evidence Coronavirus Spreads Through Food or Food Packaging: FDA
HealthDay reports that there’s no evidence that the new coronavirus can spread through food or food packaging, U.S. health officials say.
Fallon Health sends meals, COVID care packages to members
Fallon Health (@fallon_health), a mission-focused, community-based not-for-profit health care services organization announced new ways it is supporting the health care needs of its members during the COVID-19 pandemic. The outreach effort, which includes having nutritious food and healthy items delivered to homes, will focus on helping those members most at risk of, and most impacted by, the coronavirus including those in certain Fallon programs for individuals over the age of 65.
Fauci: Relaxed CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people may be coming ‘soon’
The Hill reports that Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) could soon release more relaxed safety recommendations for people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Biden targets diverse groups with vaccine hesitancy for COVID-19 funds
CBS News reports that The Biden administration has awarded millions of dollars to counter fear and misinformation in communities of color that have indicated they’re concerned about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. Over the past three weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded more than $17 million to several organizations planning vaccine education, according to the Department of Health and Human Services funding database.
Surveys and Reports
State of Coronavirus and Insurance Report: Part III from InsuranceQuotes – The COVID-19 pandemic posed numerous challenges to insurers and policyholders. From events cancelation and travel insurance confusion to challenges underwriting and pricing new policies, the pandemic threw obstacles in the way of insurers that are only now beginning to be cleared. This report will aim to detail some of the ways things are returning to normal as well as many challenges that still stand in the way.
Is COVID-19 Fueling the Next Opioid Epidemic? By The Recovery Village (@recoveryvillage) – Prior to COVID-19, progress had been made in the fight against the Opioid Epidemic. But have stay-at-home measures, unemployment and restricted access to health care created by the pandemic turned back the clock?
Flu shot may help reduce severity of COVID-19 illness, study suggests by Becker’s Hospital Review – People who received a flu shot were 24 percent less likely to test positive for COVID-19 than those who did not, according to research published Feb. 22 in the American Journal of Infection Control.
COVID-19 patients protected from reinfection for 3 months after recovery by UPI – Prior COVID-19 infection provides immunity against the virus for at least three months in the vast majority of patients, a study published Wednesday by JAMA Internal Medicine found.
Many Cancer Patients Worry Pandemic Will Impact Their Care: Survey from HealthDay – A survey of more than 1,200 cancer survivors and patients found that 77% believed they were at higher risk for serious health effects if they got COVID-19 and worried about possible ICU admission or death, researchers reported in the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology.
To Listen
We have compiled a playlist from all our shows and podcasts on our network that discuss the current COVID-19 pandemic.
To Read
10 Examples Of Healthcare Innovation In The Face Of Covid from Forbes – Life and business will never be the same after the pandemic, especially in healthcare. Everything from how patients see their doctors and get treated to how hospitals use tools and share information will forever be altered.
Monoclonal antibody treatment helps couple recover quickly from COVID-19 by Mayo Clinic (@mayoclinic) – When Bob and Joyce Wachsmuth were diagnosed with COVID-19, their care team told them about two programs that could help with their care and recovery: remote patient monitoring and monoclonal antibody therapy. They quickly signed on for both.
COVID Vaccine-Scheduling Apps Protected Against HIPAA Violations By Devin Partida, Editor-in-Chief, ReHack.com (@rehackmagazine) – On Jan. 20, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a notice of enforcement regarding HIPAA regulations and COVID-19 vaccine-scheduling apps. The update states that the OCR won’t impose HIPAA noncompliance penalties related to good-faith use of these services. This suspension of penalties, retroactively effective to Dec. 11, 2020, could have a considerable impact on vaccine rollout.
Events
Physicians’ Reciprocal Insurers (PRI)
What: COVID-19 Physician Peer Support
When: Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:30 – 6:30 pm ET
Register for Tuesday & Thursday Groups
Twitter: @EmPRO_Insurance
COVID-19 Physician Peer Support – PRI has multiple weekly complimentary Virtual Support Groups on Coping with COVID-19 which your fellow physicians have been utilizing and finding great comfort and support from.
COVID-19 Resources
HealthcareNOW Radio rounded up some health IT resources being offered by companies to help healthcare professionals, American citizens and all of those affected in the fight against the coronavirus.
COVID-19 Pharma News
HealthcareNOW Radio rounded up some of the latest news and announcements pertaining to the coronavirus and the pharmaceutical industry.
Latest COVID-19 News from CDC
CDC is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services. CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the US. CDC increases the health security of our nation. As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats.
The CDC is the front line for our safety and information on the Coronavirus. Keep informed about COVID-19. Sign up to get emails or text alerts from the CDC.
Health Center COVID-19 Testing
Updated weekly using data from the Health Center COVID-19 Survey, the Health Center COVID-19 Testing Dashboard provides a high-level view of total COVID-19 tests conducted and the distribution of positive COVID-19 tests by race and ethnicity.